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Items that were intended to be used and thrown away, such as tickets, brochures, or posters, but have become collectibles. In rare books, these often provide context or additional information about the period or the book's use.

Books, pamphlets, or broadsides printed in Europe before the year 1501. Typically these items are characterized by being printed using moveable type or block printing.

The history of ownership of a book or manuscript. This often includes information about its owners, where it has been, and any marks of ownership such as bookplates or annotations.

A scene painted on the edges of the pages of a book. These paintings are only visible when the pages are fanned and are often hidden when the book is closed.

The physical cover of a book which can be made of various materials including leather, cloth, or paper. Rare books might feature intricate designs or be bound with unusual materials.

A book size made by folding a single sheet of paper once to form two leaves (or four pages). Historically, this size indicated a large and often prestigious volume.

Notes, comments, or doodles that were written in the margins of a book's page. They are valued for giving insights into how previous owners read and engaged with the text.

A label, often decorative, indicating ownership that is pasted inside the front cover of a book. It usually contains the name of the owner and can be an artwork in its own right.

Handwritten books that are adorned with gold, silver, and vivid colors. They often contain elaborate illustrations, particularly at the start of a new chapter or section.

A gathering of sheets of paper folded together, which is a basic building block in the construction of a book. It often consists of 4 or 8 sheets, resulting in 8 or 16 pages respectively.

A statement at the end of a book, usually with details of its production. It can include information about the printer, typeface, paper, and sometimes, the bookbinder.

A fine material made from calf-skin used for writing, printing, or binding. It is valued in rare book collecting for its beauty and durability compared to paper.

Age-related spots and browning seen on paper. These spots are often caused by chemical reactions involving the paper's fibers and environmental conditions.

A manuscript page from a scroll or book that has been scraped off and used again. This was often done in antiquity as writing materials were expensive and scarce.